---
name: "pacdiff"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "pacman-contrib"
version: "1.13.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pacdiff"
---

# pacdiff(8)

pacorig, pacnew and pacsave maintenance utility

## NAME

pacdiff - pacorig, pacnew and pacsave maintenance utility

## SYNOPSIS

*pacdiff* \[options\]

## DESCRIPTION

*pacdiff* is a script which looks for pacorig, pacnew and pacsave files from the backup entries found in the local pacman db. For every found file the option is given to view, merge, skip, diff, remove or overwrite the found pacorig, pacnew or pacsave file.

## OPTIONS

### Search Options

- **-f, --find**

  Scan using find.

- **-l, --locate**

  Scan using locate.

- **-p, --pacmandb**

  Scan active config files from pacman database. (default)

### General Options

- **-b, --backup**

  When overwriting, save old files with .bak.

- **-c, --cachedir \<dir\>**

  Scan *dir* instead as the pacman cache for 3-way merge base candidates.

- **-h, --help**

  Display syntax and command-line options.

- **--nocolor**

  Do not colorize output.

- **-o, --output**

  Print files instead of merging them.

- **-s, --sudo**

  Use sudo and sudoedit to merge/remove files.

- **-3, --threeway**

  View diffs in 3-way fashion if the base package is available in the cache. Fall back to regular 2-way diff otherwise.

- **-V, --version**

  Display version information.

## ENVIRONMENT

**DIFFPROG**

Override the default diff program *vim -d*, or *nvim -d* if EDITOR=nvim.

**DIFFSEARCHPATH**

Override the default search path */etc*, only when using find.

**MERGEPROG**

Override the default *diff3 -m* 3-way merge program. One possible alternative is *git merge-file -p*.

## SEE ALSO

[**pacman**(8)](/pacman/8.md), [**pacman.conf**(5)](/pacman.conf/5.md)

## BUGS

Bugs? You must be kidding; there are no bugs in this software. But if we happen to be wrong, file an issue with as much detail as possible at https://gitlab.archlinux.org/pacman/pacman-contrib/-/issues/new.

## AUTHORS

Current maintainers:

• Johannes Löthberg \<johannes@kyriasis.com\>

• Daniel M. Capella \<polyzen@archlinux.org\>

For additional contributors, use git shortlog -s on the pacman-contrib.git repository.